By JOE SHARKEY

Published: October 25, 1998

THE Taliban hard-liners who rule most of Afghanistan are arguably the world's most vociferous enemies of modern technology. When they aren't busy enforcing the rules that prohibit females from leaving their homes unveiled or unaccompanied by a close male relative, the Taliban religious police roam neighborhoods searching for radios, TV's, VCR's, phonographs, satellite dishes or computers, which are promptly destroyed while the owners are arrested.

What a surprise, then, to go on line, type in ''www.taliban.com'' and witness what spills forth: Taliban Online, a profusion of graphics and text (in awkward English) employing the most modern communications tool -- the Internet -- to extol the virtues and triumphs of the least modern of regimes. Here are excerpts from the site, which appears to originate in Pakistan and is evidently designed for external use only. JOE SHARKEY

Among Taliban Online features are news summaries from the pages of the unofficial Taliban weekly newspaper, Dharb-i-Mumin, which chronicles efforts to enforce sharia, or Islamic law, in Afghanistan. Some recent items:

Drive of Kandahar Police Against Antisocial Elements: The Kandahar police, in a drive against antisocial elements yesterday, rounded up different criminals from around the city. They arrested a man and seized . . . 240 song cassettes and packs of playing cards from his possessions. All the things were then set on fire while the culprit was handed over to the police. Oct. 4

Televisions Seized and Smashed in Kabul: [The religious police] have started their country-wide campaign of destroying televisions, VCR's, satellite dishes, etc. . . . On Tuesday, here in Kabul, hundreds of television sets and other instruments of immoral pastimes were seized from markets and work places and then destroyed. These means of corruption were, in some places, even thrown out of the windows of high buildings to smash on the streets below. A source revealed that the campaign will be carried on with the same fervor and zeal till the complete destruction of these instruments of moral depravity. Aug. 9

Kabul: 16 Punished for Trimming Beard: [The religious police] arrested 16 people in raids on different parts of the city, on the charge of having their beard trimmed to less than the required length. Two taxi drivers were also arrested for taking unattended, unveiled women as passengers. Aug. 2

Punishment on Trimming Beard and Keeping Un-Islamic Hairstyle: The religious police . . . arrested several people in different crimes during several raids in different parts of the city. They arrested and gave sharia punishment to 13 shopkeepers for not offering congregational prayers. . . . Similarly, dozens of people were [given] punishment for trimming their beards. . . . Meanwhile, the religion police gave hard sharia punishment to three taxi drivers who had allowed [unescorted] women to sit in their taxis [and] issued an order according to which no women could go to the doctor even for medicine [unless accompanied by a male relative]. Similarly, some private schools for women were also ordered to be closed which were open in homes. . . . According to an official of the religious police . . . some weak elements were trying to pave way for indecency and dissension among women under cover of education; therefore, all such schools have been ordered to close down. July 19

Liquor Seized at Kabul International Airport: A large amount of liquor was seized from Kabul International Airport. This liquor was being smuggled by the officials of an international welfare organization from Islamabad [Pakistan] to Kabul, when it was seized by Taliban security forces. Later liquor is burnt in fire. . . . Previously also, liquor bottles were recovered from the officers of Red Cross International organization during search at Kabul airport. -- July 26

Three Dozen Shopkeepers Punished: [Government agents] punished three dozen shopkeepers for not offering congregational prayers in Kabul. The accused were also ordered to keep their shops closed for five days. Whereas, 25 persons were punished for trimming their beards and 12 taxi drivers were given sharia punishment for dealing with women and for listening [to] songs. -- July 26

Prohibition of TV, VCR Essential to Save Society from Destruction: An edict was issued by [the religious police] ordering the destruction or disposal of all TV sets, VCR's, videocassettes, etc., in the country within 15 days. ''No one is allowed to keep these things in their home or shops. Selling or dealing in such goods is strictly prohibited from now on. Restriction is imposed upon mechanics of corruption and depravity,'' the order maintained.

[In an interview], the deputy head of the Taliban's religious ministry said that they had no other option to cleanse the society of corruption and moral depravity. ''We had banned all televisions, videocassette recorders, videos, satellite dishes, audio cassettes of recorded songs and music from the country when we took control. But the ban had not been strictly imposed and, taking advantage of our leniency, people are watching TV in their homes. So we have decided to remedy this.'' July 19